the clock meanwhile keeps ticking an the point man the president's point man in fiscal cliff negotiations took to five sunday talk shows to make the administration's case. >>> we think that's a very good set of proposals that's what is good for the economy. if they have got different suggestions twhaent to go further in some areas they should lay it out to us. >> the president's plan called for $1.6 trillion in new taxes over the next decade mostly with the wealthy. those would be sure. less sure the promised spending cuts republicans say might never actually happen. the government takes more money through the tax hikes but spend more money. making the debt even higher. >> i am flabbergasted. i looked at him and said we can't be serious. we have put a serious offer on the table to put revenues up there to try to get the question resolved. the white house responded with virtually nothing. >> they have a plan republicans lack specific. one thing that appears to be a nonstarter is the white house proposal to give the president broad new authority to almost unilaterally raise the nation's deb